Drapery-operating system



Jan. 28, 1964 T. A. STUBBLEFIEL'D 3,119,443

DRAPERY-OPERATING SYSTEM Filed March 25, 1962 FIG. I

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F mE L B ww T 5 A s A M O H T ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,119,443DRAPERY-QPERATHWG SYSTEM Thomas A. Silihhliieitl, 42h E. Bohier Drive,Vista, Calif assiguor or one=third each to flames l Brooks, GardenGrove, Calirh, to lohn H. Han-cosh, La Hahra, Calif.

Filed Mar. 23, 1952, tier. No. 159,953 13 tllaims. (Cl. Mil-3%) Thisinvention relates to apparatus for opening and closing draperies, andmore particularly to a draperyo erating system incorporating apositionable end pulley unit for use in conjunction with hollow tracksor traverse rods.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a drapery-operatingsystem for accommodating draperies of various widths along apredetermined segment of a track or traverse rod.

Another object of this invention is to provide a draperyoperating systemincluding a positionable and releasablylockable end-pulley unitutilizable either to accommodate the depending runs of a drapery pullcord, or as a universal return for runs of the cord enclosed within ahollow traverse rod or track.

A further object is to provide a compact, economical and flexibledrapery operating system employing any desired length of standwd trackor traverse rod.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a drapery-operatingsystem including a positionable and releasably-lockable end-pulley unitto accommodate depending runs or, alternatively, to function as auniversal return for a drapery pull cord, the system being such thatmore than one pull cord may be installed in a single track.

A further object of this invention is to provide universal end-pulleyunits for installation in a longitudinally-slotted traverse rod, suchpulleys being suitable either for use as a universal return or as asuspension for the depending runs of a drapery pull cord, so that thedepending runs of the cord may be changed from one to the other of twoend pulleys without the necessity of reversing their positions, orrestringing the pull cord.

Another object of this invention is to provide a draperyoperating systemutilizing a positionable and releasablylockable end-pulley unit for usewith existing traverse rods, such unit being thin enough to fit withinthe slot of a conventional standard or heavy-duty traverse rod, andbeing free from structure overlapping the outer edges of the rod.

Another object of this invention is to provide a positionable andreleasably-lockable end-pulley unit including a detachable return bar,such bar being adjustable in length and malcing it possible to fold theouter vertical edges of the draperies in conventional manner toward thevertical wall surface adjacent to the traverse rod, and to suspend thefold fixedly in this position.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be setforth more fully in the following specification and claims, consideredin connection with the attached drawing to which they relate.

in the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the positionable drapery-operatingsystem of this invention, showing a typical installation of two of thepositionable, releasablylockable, end-pulley uni-ts on a traverse rod,with one of the units utilized as a universal cord return and the otheras a drop-cord suspension;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of the righthand pulley unit of FIGURE 1,illustrating the operation of the releasable locking device which makesit possible to shift the unit longitudinally along the track or traverserod;

FIGURE 3 represents a lateral cross-section through 3,119,443 PatentedJan. 28, 1964 the traverse rod along the vertical plane 3-3 indicated inFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross-section through the end-pulley unit ofFIGURE 2, taken along the horizontal plane 4 i-, and illustrating morespecifically the manner in which the unit is supported on the traverserod;

FlGURE 5 is a perspective representation of one of the end pulley units,showing its external structural features; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the horizontal plane6-6 of FIGURE 3 to show a plurality of mounting holes for receivingselectively the pin or hook used to support rear-wand drapery folds ofvarious lengths.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, the positionable drapery-operatingsystem of this invention includes two identical, positionable, andreleasably-lockable end pulleys 2 shown in a typical installation on atraverse rod or track 3%. The righthand end pulley 2 is shown asutilized as a drop-cord suspension device for the depending runs 35a and35b of a drop cord 35. The

-1e-ithand pulley 2 then functions as a universal return device, thecord 35' being looped around one of the pulley wheels.

Each of the pulley units 2 is provided with a releasable cam lock iiifor securing it firmly in place at the desired location on traverse rod30. By releasing the cam lock it) of each pulley unit 2 in the mannerexplained below, these units may he slid to new positions along traverserod or track 3i). When the pulley units 2 have been positioned, forexample, at their respective new locations 3% and 39, their respectivecam locks it are actuated to engage traverse rod 3th and again securethe units firmly but releasably in place.

It should be noticed that a plurality of pairs of pulley units 2 may beinstalled on traverse rod 30 For example, the alternative position 38may also be understood to represent a third pulley unit 2 functioning asa dropcord suspension device in cooperation with the lefthand pulleyunit 2. Likewise the alternative position 39 may be understood torepresent a fourth pulley unit functioning as a universal-return devicein cooperation with the righthand pulley unit 2. A separate pull cord 35may be used with each cooperating pair of pulley units 2,.

Each pulley unit 2 is best portrayed in HGURES 25, and comprisesgenerally a thin, channel-like frame 4 having a top wall 40, integralsidewalls db and dc, and four integral mounting flanges 4d extendinglaterally from the upper corners of sidewalls 4b and 4c. The frame 4 isopen at the bottom and at each end.

Two pulley wheels or sheaves 6 and 8, made of plastic, metal, or othersuitable material, are supported between the sides db and 4c of theframe 4. The wheel 6, installed for rotation around a pin 7 extendingthrough coaxial holes provided in the frame sides 4!) and 40, may becharacterized as an end wheel because the drop cord 35 never extendsbeyond it. The wheel 8, installed for rotation around a pin 9 extendingthrough another pair of coaxial holes in the frame sides, may be calledthe intermediate wheel. The elevations of the wheels are caused to beslightly different, so that cord friction will be minimized.

The respective thicknesses of the pulley wheels 6 and S are equal, andslightly less than the distance between the internal surfaces of framesides 4b. and do. As a safeguard against the possibility that the framesides 4b and 40 may he accidentally bent inwardly against the sides ofpulley wheels 6 and 8 and prevent their free rotation, the mounting pins7 and 9 may be provided with shoulders (not shown) to bear against theinner surfaces of sides 4b and 4c surrounding their respective mountingholes.

As represented best in FIGURES 3 and 4, the external width of frame 4 iscaused to be slightly less than the width of the standard longitudinalslot or gap 31 which is provided in the lower surface of traverse rod ortrack 39. This makes it possible to mount the pulley unit 2 in traverserod 34} by merely removing a suitable end plug $2, and then sliding thepulley into the slot. The mounting flanges dd will then engage the innertrack surface adjacent the opposing edges 31a and 31b of the slot. Whenthe pulley is in this position, the extreme upper portions of the pulleywheels 6 and 8 will be within track 3ft, but the major portion of theframe 4 of pulley unit 2 will extend downwardly from the slot 31. Thepulley wheels lie (FIGURE 3) in a plane which: (it) contains the axis ofthe track 3'3, and (52) extends through slot 31.

The cam lock 118, shown best in FIGURE 2, is mounted for pivotalmovement around the end of the mounting pin 9, such end extendingoutwardly from the frame side 4b. The lower end of the cam lock i isprovided with a laterally-extending handle lilo to facilitate lockingand releasing the pulley unit 2. The upper edge of cam lock 19 is shapedwith an arcuate portion ldb having a radius (measured with respect tothe axis of mounting pin 9) which increases to a maximum slig tly inexcess of the distance bet-ween pin 9 and the external surface of slotedge 31a, and then diminishes abruptly to form a cam notch 190. A bitingtooth Mid is thus formed adjacent the arcuate portion ltib, as is alock-limit corner or stop litle.

Rotation of the handle Mia in the clockwise direction will have theeffect of bringing the biting tooth ldd into engagement with the lowersurface of traverse rod 3 adjacent slot edge 31a. Further clockwiserotation of the handle litltz will cause the biting tooth lld to exertpressure against and make a slight resilient bend or depression in theslot edge 31a. When the biting tooth lilld passes over the vertical apexof its rotation around the axis of pin 9, further clockwise rotation isarrested by engagement of the lock-limit corner or stop Hie with thelower surface adjacent to the slot edge 31a, and the pulley unit 2 islocked releasably in position. The downward pressure exerted against thebiting tooth ltld by the resiliently-deformed slot edge 31a maintainsthe cam lock 10 in the lock position shown at L.

It should be noticed that normal operation of the pull cord 35 willresult in application of a longitudinal component of force directedtoward the cooperating pulley unit 2 (FIGURE 1). Hence, the possibilitythat a longitudinal force component will be applied to the pulley unit 2in the opposite direction and tend to unlock the cam lock 10 isvirtually non-existent. The biting tooth 10d prevents the pulley unit 2from sliding toward the cooperating pulley unit during operation of thepull cord 35 to open or close draperies (not shown) which are suspendedfrom the traverse rod 30. In this connection, reference is made to myco-pending applications, Patent Application, Serial No. 99,112, filedMarch 29, 1961, now Patent No. 3,090,43l for Drapery Supporting andPleating Apparatus, and Patent Application, Serial No. 167,824, filedJanuary 22, 1962, for Drapery Positioning Apparatus.

To release the pulley unit 2 and prepare it for movement along traverserod or track 3d, the handle lilo of the cam lock 10 is rotatedcounterclockwise into release position R. This disengages the bitingtooth lltld from the surface of the rod 30 adjacent slot 31a, and makesit possible to slide the pulley unit 2 longitudinally along slot 31.

In accordance with another important feature of the invention, eachpulley unit 2 includes a laterally-extending drapery-return bar 49 toprovide means for supporting a rearwardly-directed, vertical end fold ofa drapery (not shown) which is suspended from the traverse rod 30'. Thereturn bar 40, made of metal, has a forked end 44in, an oifset bend 40b,and a plurality of holes 400 respectively adjacent to lateral notchesAdd (FIGURES 3 and 4 6). The forked end the is accommodated inlaterallyopposed, parallel, vertical slots 42 (FIGURE 5) which areprovided in the frame sides db and 4c of each pulley unit 2. Thelocation of slots 42 is so chosen that the portion of bar to between thesides 4b and 40 will not interfere with cord 35.

To install the return bar it? on frame 4, the forked end 46a is insertedthrough the vertical slots 4e. The prongs of the forked end 46a are thendeformed or staked slightly to engage the edges of such vertical slots,thus preventing the bar 455 from becoming detached from its associatedframe in normal use.

The lateral notches ltid (located adjacent the respective holes 490)make it possible to break off end portions of the return bar 4%} inorder to shorten it to a length appropriate for the width of therearward fold of the drapery (not shown), as determined by the distancebetv een track 3% and the wall. The holes 49c accommodate the hook orother device utilized in an obvious manner to suspend the drapery foldfrom the return bar 40. Holes (not shown) for additional hooks areformed in frame sides db and 4c. The offset bend 40b positions thesupporting end tile of the bar it) so that the rearward fold of thedrapery will conceal the pulley unit 2.

It should be noticed that it is possible to reverse the functions of thetwo end pulleys, it being unnecessary to remove the pull cord 35 fromthe traverse rod 30 or to remove the draperies. Referring to FIGURE 1,the function of the lefthand pulley unit 2 may be changed from that of auniversal return device for the pull cord 35 to that of a drop-cordsuspension unit merely by grasping the cord portion 35c and pulling itdownwardly to form drop-cord runs like the runs 35:: and 35b dependingfrom the righthand pulley unit 2. Hence, the righthand pulley unit 2ceases to function as a drop-cord suspension device, and begins insteadto function as a universal return device.

Although the pulley units have been referred to as identical, it ispointed out that the return elements 40 are inserted therein fromopposite sides thereof. The previously described unit 2 is the one shownat the right in FIGURE 1, and also in FIGURES 2-5. In the unit 2represented at the left in FIGURE 1, the return 40 is disposed on thesame side of track 30 as is the return shown in FIGURES 25. However,such left unit 2 is turned around in such manner that the cam lock 10 isdisposed on the remote side of its frame 4, not on the adjacent side asis the case relative to the right pulley. Thus,

the two pulley units 2 are mirror images of each other (the mirror beinglocated intermediate the pulleys and perpendicular to track 30*) exceptthat locks 10 are onv opposite sides of their associated frames.

The relationship described in the previous paragraph permits use ofidentical frames 4 and associated wheels and looks, with consequenteconomy of manufacture. The relationship produces the advantage that themore elevated pins or shafts 7 are remote from each other (the lowershafts 3 being intermediate), so that cord friction is minimized.Furthermore, and very importantly, the relationship is such that whenoperation of cord 35 tends to move the pulley units towards each other,the locks 10 of both units 2 tend to remain in their lock positions L(FIGURE 2), and are not shifted to their release positions R.

Various embodiments of the present invention, in addition to what hasbeen illustrated and described in detail, may be employed withoutdeparting from the scope of the accompanying claims.

1 claim:

1. For use in a drapery-operating system including a pull cord, and ahollow traverse rod having a downwardly-facing longitudinal slot, areleasably-locka-ble endpulley unit positionable longitudinally on thetraverse rod to facilitate operation of the pull cord and to makepossible the accommodation of draperies of various Widths on a traverserod of given length, the said endpulley unit comprising: a frameslidably mountable in the longitudinal slot of the traverse rod, andhaving a body portion depending beneath the slot; a first pulley Wheelmounted rotatably on the depending body portion of the frame and havingan upper arc rising at least to a plane common to the opposing edges ofthe slot; a second pulley wheel mounted rotatably on the depending bodyportion of the frame in coplanar relation with the first wheel andhaving an upper are rising above the upper arc of the first wheel; and acam lock mounted pivotally on the frame to lock the same at a desiredposition on the traverse rod.

2. For use in a drapery-operating system including a pull cord, and ahollow traverse rod having a downwardly-facing longitudinal slot, areleasably-lockable endpulley unit positionablelongitudinally on thetraverse rod to facilitate operation of the pull cord and to makepossible the accommodation of draperies of various Widths on -a traverserod of given length, the said end-pulley unit comprising: achannel-shaped frarne having a width slightly less than the width of thelongitudinal slot, said frame having mounting flanges extendinglaterally there- (from to engage the interior surface of the traverserod adjacent said slot, so that the frame will have a depending bodyportion beneath the slot and will be slidable longitudinally along thetraverse rod; a first pulley wheel mounted rotatably on the dependingbody portion of the frame and having an upper arc rising at least to aplane common to the opposing edges of the slot; a second pulley wheelmounted rotatably on the depending body portion of the frame in coplanarrelation with the first wheel and having an upper are rising above theupper arc of the first wheel; a cam lock mounted pivotally on thedepending body portion of the frame externally of the traverse rod, saidcam lock having an effective radius greater than the distance betweenthe pivotal axis of the cam lock and a point of engagement between thecam lock and the traverse rod; and a laterally-extending drapery barcoupled detachably to the depending body portion of the frame.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2, in which said drapery bar isadapted to project from either side of said frame.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 2, in which said cam lock has atooth portion adapted to bite into said traverse rod upon pivotalmovement of said cam lock relative to said frame, and also has a stopmeans disposed to prevent overtravel of said tooth portion relative tosaid traverse rod.

5. For use in a drapery-operating system including a pull cord, and ahollow traverse rod having a downwardly-facing longitudinal slot, areleasably-lockable endpnlley unit positionable longitudinally on thetraverse rod to facilitate operation of the pull cord and to makepossible the accommodation of draperies of various widths on a traverserod of given length, the said endpulley unit comprising: achannel-shaped frame having a width slightly less than the width of saidlongitudinal slot, said frame having mounting flanges extendinglaterally therefrom to engage the interior sunface of the traverse rodadjacent said slot, so that the frame will have a depending body portionbeneath the slot and will be slidable longitudinally along the traverserod; pulleywheel means mounted rotatably in said depending body portionof said frame and adapted to receive said pull cord, said pulley-wheelmeans being disposed in a plane which is parallel to a plane containingthe axis of said track and extending through said slot; and lock meansmounted on said frame to engage said traverse rod at any desired pointtherealong and prevent longitudinal movement of said frame relative tosaid traverse rod.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which said lock means isadapted in conjunction with at least one of said mounting flanges togrip against the exterior and interior surfaces of a traverse rod edgeadjacent said slot.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which a drapery bar ismounted on said depending body portion of said frame.

8. A traverse rod assembly, which comprises a hollow track having a slotor gap along one side thereof, a frame having a supporting portiondisposed interiorly of said track and a pulley-mounting portionextending through said slot to the exterior of said track, saidsupporting portion having a transverse dimension greater than the widthof said slot whereby said supporting portion will rest on the opposededges of said track adjacent said slot, said frame being slidablelongitudinally of said track, means to lock said frame at variousdesired positions along the length of said track, pulley-wheel meansrotatably mounted on said pulley-mounting portion of said frame in aplane which contains the axis of said track and extends through saidslot, and pull-cord means extending through said track longitudinallythereof and riding on said pulley-wheel means.

9. The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which said supporting portionof said frame is engaged with interior portions of said track edgesadjacent said slot, and in which said lock means is a cam elementmounted on said pulley-mounting frame portion and manually movable intogripping engagement with exterior portions of said track edges adjacentsaid slot, said cam element being disposed exteriorly of said track.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 9, in which said cam element ispivotally mounted on said pulley-mounting portion of said track, and isformed with locking teeth adapted to bite into said track.

11. The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which a second andcorresponding frame, pulley-wheel and locking assembly is mounted onsaid track, and in which a drapery-support bar is secured to each ofsaid frames in laterally-extending relationship.

12. A traverse rod assembly, which comprises a hollow track having aslot or gap along one side thereof, a frame slidable longitudinally ofsaid track, manuallyoperable means to lock said frame at any desiredposition along the length of said track, pulley-wheel means rotatablymounted on said frame, said pulley-wheel means lying in a plane whichcontains the axis of said track and extends through said slot, andpull-cord means extending through said track longitudinally thereof andriding in said pulley-Wheel means, said pull-cord means also extendingthrough said slot from the interior of said track to the exteriorthereof.

13. The invention as claimed in claim 12, in which said pulley-Wheelmeans is disposed at least partially in said slot whereby to insureguiding of said pull cord therethrough without contacting the edges ofsaid track.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS436,704 Green Sept. 16, 1890 1,494,429 Kirsch May 20, 1924 2,486,224Stutz Oct. 25, 194-9 2,590,370 Bell Mar. 25, 1952 2,707,994 Radke May10, 1955

12. A TRAVERSE ROD ASSEMBLY, WHICH COMPRISES A HOLLOW TRACK HAVING A SLOT OR GAP ALONG ONE SIDE THEREOF, A FRAME SLIDABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID TRACK, MANUALLYOPERABLE MEANS TO LOCK SAID FRAME AT ANY DESIRED POSITION ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID TRACK, PULLEY-WHEEL MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, SAID PULLEY-WHEEL MEANS LYING IN A PLANE WHICH CONTAINS THE AXIS OF SAID TRACK AND EXTENDS THROUGH SAID SLOT, AND PULL-CORD MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TRACK LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF AND RIDING IN SAID PULLEY-WHEEL MEANS, SAID PULL-CORD MEANS ALSO EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID TRACK TO THE EXTERIOR THEREOF. 